I paid a fake bill, what now? What should I do?

I paid a fake bill, what now? Will I get my money back? Read the text and find out!

How does the fake bill scam work?

THE fake ticket scam occurs thanks to a technology called phishing. It is widely used by cybercriminals to steal personal data, money or install criminal software (malware).

The specific malware in this case is known as malware. It's installed on users' computers or even on the machines of companies that issue bills.

This way, he can change the receiving account and the amounts of bills issued online.

According to data from Avast, a digital security software company, 71% of the users interviewed who were exposed to some phishing attempt received some content via email.

Of this number, 46% ended up being victims of some scam or violation.

In the fake bill scam, the customer pays a fraudulent bill believing it is from the store, but the money ends up in the scammer's account.

In this case, the store does not receive payment and the paying customer does not receive their product.

In addition to falsifying purchase receipts, cybercriminals also commit fraud with billing receipts.

They use many ways to attract new victims, for example, spoofing barcodes or even creating fake pages for customers to download a bill.

This invoice is certainly forged, but the individual doesn't realize it, after all, it was generated on an apparently trustworthy page.

So, she pays the fake bill and ends up falling for the scam.

Another way to carry out this scam is through fake emails, which contain a lot of information that resembles the company's.

They typically contain malicious links that take users to malicious websites or attachments that contain malware.

There's also the fake bill sent by mail. Although it's easier to identify, many people end up paying fake bills received this way.

What can I do to protect myself from pushing?

I paid a fake bill, what now?

Ever wondered how malware got installed on someone's computer?

The first step to protecting yourself against scams is to be aware of some of the content you receive, for example:

External links;
Very profitable offers;
Declaration of winners of prizes or even trips;
Messages with a sense of urgency;
Emails from unknown people;
Threats of canceling services or the like.

It's very important to be wary of this type of content. Don't click or even share it until you're completely sure it's a trustworthy link from a reputable company.

There is a saying that can apply to this context: “when the alms are too much, the saint becomes suspicious.”

Be wary of such content, even if it was sent by someone you trust or contains the logo or name of a well-known company, or even the government.

Additionally, have an antivirus installed and updated on your devices to stop the action of the Bolware virus.

I paid a fake bill, what now?

If you have been a victim of this scam, it is recommended that you look for the company that made the charge and the banks involved in the fraud, that is, the one that appears as the recipient of the bill and its bank, through which the bill was paid.

This way, you can try to get the debt paid off. Additionally, you should file a police report.

Gather all evidence of the boleto scam and go to the nearest police station. This way, the police can investigate the case and try to identify and punish the scammers.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will get your money back even if you take these steps.

Therefore, it's essential to be vigilant and know how to identify a fraudulent bill. Check out some tips below.

Tips to protect yourself from the fake bill scam

I paid a fake bill, what now?

The best way to prevent this scam is to know how to spot a fake boleto. Check out the tips we've put together to help you.

1. Check the barcode

The first tip is to check if the barcode is questionable. First, check that the last digits of the barcode correspond to the amount to be paid.

Furthermore, on a real boleto the barcode numbers appear exactly the same at the beginning and end of the boleto.

The first three digits correspond to the bank that issued the boleto. If in doubt, check the institution's number. FEBRABAN website. Click on “Associates”.

If the number does not match the receiving bank, the ticket may be fake.

2. Check the source of the invoice

Scammers typically send fake invoices via email, WhatsApp, or SMS. Be aware of this and, if possible, ask the store to send the invoice through an official channel.

3. Unknown beneficiary

Note the name of the company or person who will receive the boleto payment. If it's a company, you can check its reputation on Reclame Aqui, for example.

Additionally, check the issuer's CNPJ (Brazilian Taxpayer Registry) on the Federal Revenue Service website. The portal allows you to verify that the registration is genuine.

Check with Procon to see if there is any information about the company's reputation.

Also pay attention to other information on the invoice, such as amateur Portuguese errors. These are common in counterfeit bills.

4. Inability to read the barcode

This is a common issue when scanning a boleto code. However, it's important to keep an eye on it.

Tampered bills often have incompatible readings; in this case, you will need to enter the numbers manually.

Always use your cell phone camera to scan the code. If this isn't possible, be very careful and check that the bill is valid using the tips mentioned above.

5. Do not print electronic bills

Pay the boleto using only the barcode number. If the software is installed on your computer, it will change the recipient and amount of your boleto as soon as you open the document to print.

In fact, this is precisely when this virus acts. Therefore, it's best to enter the number manually rather than printing an electronic invoice.

6. Note the original value

Another important tip is to always pay attention to the values of the bills, if there is any change in the original value, you may be faced with a fake bill.

Therefore, do not make the payment until you have resolved your queries with the issuing company.

Conclusion

Criminals go to great lengths to target victims. As you can see, they use technology to commit their crimes.

You can also use technology to avoid falling for these scams, for example, by monitoring your CPF.

Life and Finance

Nara

Writer and aspiring Virtual Assistant. Passionate about the Digital Financial Market and its various aspects. Certified by Rock Content and HubSpot. ANBIMA student.

June 20, 2022